Swimming fins



May 29, 1924. 1,494,958

A. G. JOHNSQN SWIMMING FINS Filed May 21. 1923 I I Jrwonic YWZ% I 7% a M Patented May 20, 1924.

v was s. Jorrnson, or KALISZEELL, MONTANA.

SWIMMING FINS.

Application filed May 21,

To ichom it may concern Y 'Bt it known that I, ALvr'RA GkJonwson,

acitizen of the United States, residing at: Kalispell, in the county of Flathead and State" of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Swimming Fin spofwliich the following isa specification.

Thisinvention relates, to swimming appliances and the primary object of the pres ent invention is to provide novel means for facilitating the art of swimming;

Another prime object of the invention is to provide means adapted to be detachably connected with the limbs of a person for engaging a relatively large area of water on the push stroke of a person using the said means, thereby facilitating locomotion in the water.

A further prime object of the invention is to provide a swimming appliance embodying an attaching bar and a plurality of fins pivotally connected with the said bar, the fins being adapted to be moved to an inoperative non-water resisting position on the return swimming stroke and adapted to be moved to an operative water resisting position on the pushing stroke.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for normally holding the fins at an angle to the attaching bar, whereby the said fins will be readily moved to their full operative Water resisting position on the start of the swimming stroke.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a swimming appliance of the above character, which will be durable and efiicient in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formationof parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of one form of my improved swimming appliance showing the same attached to the leg of a swimmer.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary edge elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the same, and

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the fins.

192;. Serial n). 640,488.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein ;S1Hl1l&1' reference characters desig-' nate "corresponding parts throughout the several views, the. letter A generally indica'tes one form of my improved swimming appliance, which embodies a relatively nar'- row suljporting stri 10, having straps 11 secured thereto'in any preferred'manner for permitting the connection of the bar to the leg or arm of a swimmer. This strip 10'has secured thereto at predetermined points water engaging and propelling fins12 which areofsubstanti ally scoop-shape. I These fins 12 are preferably formed from sheet metal or the like and if so desired the same can be made of aluminum lined with cork, which adds to the buoyancy of the swimmingdevice. It is also preferred to have the outer edges of the fins bent down over the cork to hold the same in place. In this instance the inner edges of the fins are provided with spaced hinge barrels '13 which are adapted to engage on each side of the narrow attaching strip 10 and it is to be understood of course that these barrels can be rolled directly from the metal from which the fins are formed. Suitable pivot pins 14 extend through the barrels and through the strips. Between the hinged barrels 13 the metal from which the fins are formed is bent back over the outer surface of each fin to form a stop 15 which is adapted to engage the attaching strip 10 when the fin is moved to its operative position in order to prevent the fins from swinging too far back into engagement with the strip. It is also to be noted that when the fins are in their inoperative position, that the fins rest upon these stops 15,'which hold the fins at an angle to the strips so as to permit the strips to be readily swung into an operative water engaging position. A pin 16 is carried by the lower end of the strip for engaging the inner sur face of the lowermost fin to hold the same at the desired angle, as heretofore described.

innate Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention.

What I claim as new is 2-- 1. A swimming appliance comprising an attaching strip, a plurality of fins arranged transversely of the strip at spaced points, means pivotally connecting the fins to the strip, stop lugs carried by the fins for engaging the strips to limit the outward swinging movement thereof in relation to the strip, the fins being disposed in overlapping relation for engaging the stops of adjacent fins when the fins are in an inoperative position, whereby the fins will be held in and at a slight angle to the strip, and a stop pin carried by the strip for engaging the inner surface of the lowermost fin to hold the same at a slight angle tothe strip.

2. A swimming appliance comprising an attaching strip, means for permitting the connection of the strip to the limb of a swimmer, a plurality of fins arranged transversely of the strip at spaced points, hinge barrels formed on the fins arranged to engage the outer side faces of the strip, pivot pins extending through the pivot ears and the strip, stop lugs formed on the fins be-, tween the pivot ears for engaging the strip to limit the outward swinging movement of the fins in relation to the strip, the fins being disposed in overlapping relation for engaging the stops of adjacent fins whenthe fins are in an inoperative position, whereby the fins will be held in a slight angle to the strip, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALVIRA G; JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

LIiILA FiMELnIrIeER, DEAN Kine. 

